November of 2005 Gary Hyde and his friend of almost 30 years, Bob Thornton drove from Pullman, WA to southern California to pick up Garys new Montgomery 17. See the great photo of Gary with California's Mount Shasta in the background as he drove south. The drive wasn't exactly a straight shot. There were several other side trips to be made on the way. Northern California's Napa Valley for wine tasting.

A stop at UC Davis for a visit with friends and to do a quick seminar on potato bruising. And then on to Ontario, California and Montgomery Boats (with GPS directions) to meet up with Bob Eeg to take the delivery of the M17.

Gary trailers his new 17 with his Subaru Forester. Automatic transmission and turbo was the key to getting her over the tall passes on the way back home and to assist in stopping the package, Gary ordered trailer brakes and to be sure to be seen, the trailer is equipped with LED lights all around.

On the way back home they stopped to visit in Northern California's Mount Shasta City with Mike and Paula Lester, prior owners of "Sirius" an M15 on the Photo Site and then in Roseburg, Oregon to have lunch with Mark and Roberta Dvorscak owners of "Faith" an M23 with an album here on the site. Bob at Montgomery Boats added a 3/16" forestay and shipped a CDI Furler to Gary for him to install. Gary says the installation wasn't as much of a problem as the unpacking of the "snake of a foil" which comes wound like a spring, ready to explode. Other photos show the new IdaSailor rudder blade, factory issue Elliott Pattison sail wrapped on the boom (EP has all the measurements for special orders) and the electrical system Gary installed himself.

Photos and Story by Gary Hyde